Jane Furse is a town in the Sekhukhune District Municipality of the Limpopo province in South Africa, surrounded by the villages of Ga-Moretsele, Madibong, Marulaneng, Mamone, Mokwete and Riverside.
Significant landmarks in Jane Furse include Jane Furse Plaza, Jane Furse Memorial Hospital (the largest public sector hospital in the Sekhukhune District) and St Mark's College. Jane Furse Crossing, another shopping centre, opened in 2013 and is situated at the main four-way intersection in the town.
History
Jane Furse developed around the Jane Furse Memorial Hospital and other infrastructure - including schools, clinics and churches - built by Christian missionaries belonging to the Anglican and Roman Catholic denominations. The Jane Furse Memorial Hospital was founded by the Rt. Revd Michael Furse, the Anglican Bishop of Pretoria from 1909 - 1920, and is named after his daughter, Jane Diana Furse, born 1904, who died of scarlet fever in 1918.[2] Christian missionaries were also responsible for the construction of St. Rita's Hospital (situated at Ga-Moloi village) and St. Marks College (situated in the heart of Jane Furse).
Government
Jane Furse Police Station (Pic: @NelsonKgwete)
Jane Furse serves as the seat of the Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality, one of the four local municipalities under the Sekhukhune District.
Most of the land in Jane Furse falls under the authority of traditional leaders, known as magoshi (singular = kgoshi).
The area is governed by the African National Congress (ANC). The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) serves as the main opposition party.
Culture
The town is host to the Sekhukhune Community Radio. Other media serving the area include Thobela FM, the Polokwane-based South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) radio station and Capricorn FM, a commercial radio station also based in Polokwane.
A unique genre of music is found in Jane Furse and surrounding areas. Known as "Tja Manyalo" (wedding songs), this type of music is almost exclusively produced in and around Sekhukhune areas.
Sepedi is the predominant language spoken in Jane Furse. Other languages spoken here include Swati and Southern Ndebele.
Education
St. Marks Primary School, Jane Furse. (Pic: @NelsonKgwete)
Several primary and secondary schools are located in Jane Furse, catering to a student population estimated at 90,000. Most of the schools are public, with one private school and one private FET College. The list is as follows:
Jane Furse City College
Leap Science and Maths School
St Mark's College
St. Mark's Primary School
Jane Furse Comprehensive School
Jane Furse Primary School
Arethabeng Primary School
Bafedi Primary School
Baropodi Comprehensive
Kgolane Secondary School
Lengama Secondary School
Madibong Primary School
Matsebong Secondary School
Ngwana-matlang Secondary school
Moretsele primary School
Mookwane Primary School
Lehutjwana Secondary School
Bonega-Madikubung Primary School
Dikgabje Primary School
Mashegoanyane Primary School
Kopanong Primary School
Rebone Secondary School
Thulare Primary School
Mpilo Secondary School
Health facilities
Hospitals serving the area
New Jane Furse Hospital
St Ritas Hospital
Clinics
Ditšhweung Community Clinic
Madibong Community Clinic
Notable people
The following is a list of notable people associated with Jane Furse.
Kgoshi Mampuru (died 22 November 1883), after whom the Kgoshi Mampuru prison and street, both in Pretoria, are named[citation needed]
Statue of Kgoshi Mampuru II at a monument in Mamone village. (Pic: @NelsonKgwete)Godfrey Pitje,[3] teacher, anti-apartheid activist and President of the ANC Youth League, succeeded by Nelson Mandela in 1951.
Mpho Makwana,[6] businessman and former Chairman of the Board of Directors of Eskom
Prof. Malegapuru Makgoba, leading South African immunologist, physician, public health advocate, academic, former Health Ombudsman and former vice-chancellor of the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
References
^ a b c d"Main Place Jane Furse". Census 2011.
^Elwyn Jenkins (1 January 2007). Falling Into Place: The Story of Modern South African Place Names. New Africa Books. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-86486-689-9.
^"Godfrey Mokgonane Pitje". South African History Online. 2 March 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
^"Dr Mathume Joseph "Joe" Phaahla". South African History Online. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
^"Elias Phakane Moretsele". South African History Online. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
